We went through a record-setting heat wave just recently in the United States. Here in Atlanta, we set an all-time record of 106 F. Residence with properly-sized air conditioners are sized for a temperature level of 92 ° F and probably didn't remain so cool. I'm sure rather a few houses with air conditioning unit that seem substantially oversized didn't stay cool enough either.
Every summer you can discover lots and lots of ideas on how to conserve energy and keep cool in your home: Wear cooler clothing, utilize your ceiling fans, keep the sun out, go to a movie, get your air conditioner serviced, caulk your windows, and so on. I will point out a couple of common suggestions in this short article, but I'm also going to go over some that you may never have actually seen in an article like this prior to.
Before we enter into the real tips, though, it may be handy to keep in mind how the whole cooling thing works. Previously this year, I heard a fantastic expression on the radio: Your air conditioner is the faucet; the structure envelope of your home is the cup. If you have a leaky cup, your a/c unit has to work more difficult. If your A/C is already doing all it can, you may need to take an appearance at your building envelope. Likewise, to return to the metaphor, a leak in your pipes might make it impossible to fill up the cup, even it's not leaking much.
Here are 3 concerns to ask as you attempt to ac tune up toronto keep one's cool with an air conditioning unit that has a hard time on those actually hot days:
- What can I do to decrease the amount of heat getting in?
- What can I do to make my ac system more effective?
- What else can I do to keep one's cool?
Let's dive into the pointers now. I'm focusing here on existing homes. Whether it's a brand new house you just moved into or a hundred years old, the home is already there, so some style choices are off the table.
Tips for keeping heat out
1. Keep the sun out. Windows can be the largest contributors to your heat gain. When the sun shines directly into your home, it usually brings a lot of heat, too, unless you have really good windows (with low solar heat gain coefficients). Solar screens on the exterior of the window are fantastic for keeping heat out. You may likewise consider some temporary shading for the east- and west-facing windows on those incredibly hot days.
2. Seal the odd air leakages. The majority of the standard energy-saving guidance tells you to caulk your windows and weatherstrip your doors. The problem with that is you're ignoring some of the much larger leaks, like, say, crawl space vents that open into conditioned space or a hole in the cooking area ceiling that functions as a refrigerator vent. Take a look around in your attic, crawl area, or basement, and you'll find the worst culprits.
3. Reduce the surface temperatures. Some parts of your home might be hotter than others. For instance, you may have a perk space that's seldom comfortable. Attic kneewalls with inadequate insulation are frequently the offender there. Get the insulation in the cavities and put sheathing on the attic side of the kneewalls.
Tips for assisting your air conditioning system
4. Change your filter. The majority of people let them get too dirty, and this is one of the most common factors for bad performance in a/c. A filthy filter adds resistance and decreases air circulation. Go on and inspect it now. I'll wait till you get back.
5. Improve air circulation. In addition to the air filter, your A/C might have other types of air flow issues. If the evaporator coil is unclean, insufficient air relocations throughout it and your house doesn't cool off along with it should. If the condenser coil is unclean, it will not dispose enough heat to the outside. If your condenser coil is crowded with plant life or other barriers, clear it out. You can trim the bushes yourself, but you need to probably call a professional to clean the coils.
6. Look for detached ducts. If your ducts are beyond the conditioned space in your home, check to see if anything has come loose. Fixing a supply duct that's sending all its cool air to the attic or crawl space (as revealed below) can have an immediate influence on your convenience. This problem is more common than you may think.
Other tips for keeping one's cool
7. Usage fans. OK, I know this one's not uncommon, however if your a/c unit is doing all it can however your home still isn't quite cool enough on those truly hot days, moving the air over your skin may be just what you need to remain comfy. Remember, though, that fans don't cool the air; they cool you. Turn off ones that are in empty spaces since they're utilizing energy and including more heat to your home. Required to buy a brand-new ceiling fan? They now include energy efficiency labels demonstrating how energy efficient they are.
8. Use a window a/c. If you've done whatever above and your home is still uncomfortably hot, setting up a window unit Air Conditioner could offer you simply enough extra cooling to help you make it through the heat wave. I understand. I know. They're awful and loud and may be against the guidelines where you live. They use more power, which adds to the strain on the electricity grid, and may contribute more to international warming. Still, if you have actually got an energy efficient house with a right-sized air conditioning unit, this might be the very best method to handle those heat waves when temperatures work out above what your central air conditioning conditioner was created for. It's a much better option than installing an extra-large system simply so you have sufficient capability to deal with the extreme heat occasions. A more expensive and long-term option to the window system would be a ductless mini-split heatpump.
9. Get a house energy assessment. Trained home energy auditors can discover the issues I noted above and more and advise services. They also have equipment to measure how dripping your ducts are, for example, along with the surface temperature levels of your floors, walls, and ceilings.
10. Switch off your power attic ventilators. If you have power attic ventilators in the attic, have them detached so they do not run. They may well be robbing cool air from your home.
If your a/c unit repair work company suggests changing your system with a bigger one to handle heat waves, be cautious. A/c do not dehumidify well if they don't have long term times, and remember that heat waves do not last forever and we do not have bad ones every year. If your A/C can't keep up when it's hotter than typical outside, utilize the advice above to make it through. Your home will be more comfortable and efficient for it even when the temperature levels go back to typical.